Thanks Red1, yea, i have seen some fiberglass congas..but I guess chalk it up to old fashioned, but I do prefer real wood.
Enjoy the Music!
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Good call, red1! If you find a set that rocks for you, buy it...but keep in mind that you're makin' a big commitment in time and money, no matter what congas you finally buy!
keep the beat goin' ... Don't keep it to yourself!
Charlie
"If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away." --Henry David Thoreau, "Walden," 1854
"There's a lot to be said for Time Honored tradition and value." --In memory of Frank "fiacovaz" Iacovazzi
"Maybe your drums can be beat, but you can't."--Jack Keck
I remember walking into my favourite club and there was a great band on stage. The percussionist was playing a very scruffy set of old Congas.
After the gig, I asked him if they were "Natal" Congas but I already knew the answer from the delightful and distinctive tone they have. Given the scruffiness of the set he was intrigued to know how I knew that indeed they were Natal (Fibreglass) Congas.
Natal seem to have introduced cheaper sets made from that generic Thai Oak or whatever it is. But It's the high end fibreglass ones that you should check out.
I have until recently had wooden Tocas which were 'OK' for most purposes. I did buy some 'Players series' on Ebay but they were terrible and decided to relist them.
I simply have to save up for Natals one day.
I think the Toca players have inferior heads but I thought that the glass was a few mils too thin as well which is why I got rid of them soonest. Pearl did some much better (Fibreglass) ones once but I'm unsure now what model they were.
Other comments would be. Fibreglass (Thick as poss) = Great projection for live work
Wood = Warm sound for recording and light acoustic work.
I was interested in the comment above about Remo Congas. The Remo Mastertouch drum set was made from "Acousticon" which was in reality compressed cardboard with epoxy or similar. However, they are still among the best Live drums I have ever heard and far exceed the qualities (in my humble opinion) of modern sets costing $,000's.
If you see a set going cheap. Buy it, you will be impressed.
If the Remo Congas are made from this stuff (which I'm sure they will be) then they would most certainly be worth looking at.
TAMA- '2018 Star Walnut, ‘99 Starclassic Performer, '89 Granstar, ‘93 Rockstar
Gretsch- 1963 Round Badge
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Remo
Vic Firth
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Hardware- TAMA Roadpro
Snare Drums- various TAMA, Gretsch, Ludwig, Leedy
Mic's- Sennheiser, Shure, AKG
Great looking drums. They make my LP classics look kinda boring!
TAMA- '2018 Star Walnut, ‘99 Starclassic Performer, '89 Granstar, ‘93 Rockstar
Gretsch- 1963 Round Badge
Zildjian
Remo
Vic Firth
Speed Cobra Double Pedal Blackout Edition
Speed Cobra Hi Hat
Hardware- TAMA Roadpro
Snare Drums- various TAMA, Gretsch, Ludwig, Leedy
Mic's- Sennheiser, Shure, AKG
I bought my LP Classics used a few years ago. They were in as new condition, still had the plastic on the badges. I bought the three piece set of congas, stands for the congas, bags for the congas and a set of matching bongos for $450. Yes, that is a crazy deal. I bought them at a GC in Virginia, just outside of DC. I bought the bongo stand and bongo bag separate. For what I paid, I absolutely love them!
I've done a ton of shows with them over the years and really have no complaints. I know that there are better out there, but these have done the job well and still look beautiful after nearly four years of constant gigging. (The thick padded bags are to thank for that.)
If I had the budget, and were buying again I would buy the Gon Bops. In the low priced models, I don't see huge differences between them.
-Mike
"We don't stop playing because we grow old.
We grow old because we stop playing."
"I wish that my playing reminded people of Steve Gadd. But they seem to confuse me with his little known cousin... E."
"Snare drums happen."
-Mike
"We don't stop playing because we grow old.
We grow old because we stop playing."
"I wish that my playing reminded people of Steve Gadd. But they seem to confuse me with his little known cousin... E."
"Snare drums happen."
keep the beat goin' ... Don't keep it to yourself!
Charlie
"If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away." --Henry David Thoreau, "Walden," 1854
"There's a lot to be said for Time Honored tradition and value." --In memory of Frank "fiacovaz" Iacovazzi
"Maybe your drums can be beat, but you can't."--Jack Keck
I love Fat Congas of Santa Barbara. They no longer make congas, but have to say those are the best that I've played and continue to play.
I've own a Lp Galaxy wood drum I thought was made of American oak(it's heavy enough). It cracked on me twice. This is after buying the Lp/Valje quintos that also cra cracked on me. I'm still playing my Fat Conga that is still hanging in there after going on 20 years. No cracks and a very nice sound. My drum was made in the 90s and is maple.
If you do Gon Bops, invest in the California Series or the Alex Acuna Series. The shells for the California series is Appalachian Red Oak. The Alex Acuna Series does North American Ash. The lower priced Gon Bops are the cheap Siam Oak which is a rubber and softer wood. I found domestic woods do better in our climate.
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